Collinwood nonprofit receives $1 million Kresge Foundation grant

The nonprofit Northeast Shores Development Corp. in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood has received a $1 million grant from the Kresge Foundation that is aimed at helping existing businesses maintain a flow of customers even as the community pursues a street beautification project tied to developing the Waterloo Arts and Entertainment District.“We are beyond thrilled to have received this grant. With it, our goal is to add even more art-placed businesses and maintain neighborhood vibrancy during the construction period,” said Brian Friedman, executive director of Northeast Shores.“We saw what happened with a lot of businesses during Cleveland's Euclid Avenue construction project,” Mr. Friedman said, referring to the development of the HealthLine rapid-transit line. “A lot of them were highly affected in a negative way because construction deterred people from coming into the area. With this grant, we hope to create the opposite effect."With a portion of the grant, Northeast Shores will be working to host a variety of one-day events at existing businesses located around the area. The events could include pop-up concerts, networking opportunities and community dinners.Mr. Friedman said area businesses will apply to receive a portion of the grant to host events at their locations.“We then will review the project applications and then promote those events to encourage visitation to the community," he said. "It's our goal that by continuing to bring people into the neighborhood with exciting events and opportunities that the district will continue to grow, rather than take a year-long hiatus during the construction."Besides providing a variety of districtwide events, Northeast Shore said, the majority of the grant will help create a ceramics co-op studio, further develop artists' live-work spaces in the neighborhood, and convert former foreclosed homes into new homes for artists and musicians.

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